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06/25/1984 , ;':' ~. ~ '. . - . , . ,-;;, CLEARWATER DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD MINUTES . June 25, 1984 5:15 P. M. MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE Alan Bomstein, Chairman David Carley, Vice-Chairman Rose Phifer Robert H. Stiff, Jr. Richard Cope NON-MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE . Howard Groth Lee Arnold Lill ian Trickle Sarah Charles Sarah Little Bob Love Betty McGraw Pete Woodham Don Markwood Barbara Granholm Bob Thompson The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Mr. Bomstein, at 5:15 p.m. The meeting began with the introduction of guests. Bill Matson Chuck Albury Janis Coker Paula Harvey Larry Will iams Mrs. Ruth Wildman Mr.& Mrs. Ogg Lydia Rath Maurice Rath Dick Burkhart Mark Naedif . The first item on the agenda was the approval of the minutes and financial statements of April 30th and May 30th, 1984. Mr. Carley made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Stiff, for approval. A vote was taken and motion passed unanimously. Mr. Bomstein presented an updated report on the Bayfront Study. A public hearing was held on June 14 at the Memorial Civic Center. The public response was very good and the majority of those present were supportive. The plan changes from week to week and there are ongoing discussions between the committee and the planners~ There was a reconsideration of the two-deck parking facility to the west of Maas Bros. and a discussion of the potential of relocating that on the upper city-owned parking lot on Osceola between the library and Maas Bros. Mr. Carpenter gave a status report on the J. K. Financial Project. Mr. Joe McFate, Community Development Director with the city, indicated that the city was awaiting for J. K. Financial to furnish the city with their parking garage plans, which then have to be approved by the city. Once this action is completed and J. K. Financial pays the city $790,000 ($650,000 for the property and $140,000 for the small parking lot to the east of the present building), the city would then make one more attempt to negotiate with Dr. Jannelli for the purchase of this property before initiating condemnation action. Mr. Bomstein requested that the Executive Director correspond with the city to relate the Board's views and concurrence with the city's plan to contact Dr. Jannelli one more time before condemnation action proceeds. Mr. Carley made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Stiff, to comply with Mr. Bomstein's request. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously. ',J' . . I . .. -g.,.,..,... .' '. ~ " " '! .' . , " -', . . '. c..,}. . ... c \. I I. ! I ... , .,. :. .'. ~ .. . . , ' . . .' . . . . .' . . ", ,,__~~~~~"~~..~~n.W2~~~.,.>$~'t~;;\'&~~.'St\~~f~Q~~I:,.. " -2- June 25, 1984 . Mr. Lee Arnold, owner of the property on the northeast corner of Cleveland and Myrtle, spoke on the city-approved lease to use this site as a municipal vehicle service and repair center. He stated that under this agreement, the city would take a 5 year lease, which could be terminated within 15 months, if Mr. Arnold could find another party that could put the land to a better use. There was considerable discussion amongst the people present reflecting their dissatisfaction with the manner in which the city handled this issue and also questions as to whether the city's action was in violation of the city zoning regulations and Downtown Property Standards Ordinance. Mr. Groth, a visitor to the meeting, felt that the city's intended use was in violation of the zoning regulations, and Ms Paula Harvey, head of the Planning Department of the city, presented her interpretation which indicated that the proposed use was not in violation of the zoning regulations. Mr. Stiff made a motion to send a letter to the City Manager and the City CJrnmission expressing the Downtown Development Board's unhappiness in the way the city had handled this matter, asking that the Board be guaranteed that none of the city's zoning laws will be waived for the planned use, that no garbage trucks would be on the site, or overnight storage of vehicles, and that it would be a daytime facility only. He further stated that the city should be chastised for making such a hasty decision without first informing the Downtown Development Board and to ask them to refrain from similar actions in the future. Mr. Carley amended the motion to include that the city should proceed immediately to plan for their permanent location and to accomplish this as quickly as possible. Mr. Stiff accepted the amendment to this motion and Mr. Carley seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously. A question arose regarding procurement of a ruling from the Board of Adjustment and Appeals and an interpretation of the code. Mr. Torn Thorn will research this matter and inform Mr. Carpenter of his findings. Mr. Carley made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Stiff, to use some of the surplus funds to help pay for a speaker system in the Coachman Park Bandshell Pavilion, and to propose that the Board expend up to $4,000.00 with the city matching this amount. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously. The cost of this system will run $10,000.00, the balance of $2,000.00 will be donated by a private contributor. Mr. Carpenter gave a report on the Florida Downtown Development Association seminar in Tampa which took place June 20th through June 22nd. The theme of this seminar was that cooperation between government and private property owners is essential for downtown redevelopment. Mr. Carpenter expressed his disappointment regarding the lack of city representation on the Downtown Development Board and that he felt that the Board should attempt to establish new avenues of communication with the city on projects affecting the. downtown area. He suggested that one possibility would be for the Executive Director of the Downtown Development Board to become an unofficial member of the Community Redevelopment Agency. Mrs. Phifer requested an update on the parking garage. Mr. Carpenter replied that there was a temporary delay due to the surveyor losing a portion of the su~vey working papers, but that he would expedite the completion of this survey and obtain a firm bid from several contractors. ," . . ,,'. i .' -, ~ ! '-',' '!'.~r'.'fl;;' "I" .::1':1t. . .," '. ,\' ., . ., .. .; i," " ~ . June 25. 1984 I think that what has occurred this past week. in a certain sense, is a microcosm of the total problem, and the total problem really is, as I see the situation in Clearwater right now, that the redevelopment of downtown is in the hands of the city and not in the hands of the Downtown Development Board. We are, unfortunately, an ineffective body, when we cannot even playa role in the intended use of the largest single vacant parcel in downtown Clearwater. The underlying purpose of this Board has been subordinated to the City Manager and the City Commission and to that end it is unfair for this Board to collect taxes from the property owners downtown when they are unable to do anything effectively in the redevelopment effort downtown. The best that we can do is . to pat each other on the back and encourage each other and to complain to each other at these meetings. Unfortunately, I see that as a severe hindrance to the ability of our Board to functionally operate and to complete the charge that we were given when we were created by an act of the State Legislature. .My fervant hope is that, in the future, this problem will be rectified and that this Board will either become an effective means of redevelopment or it will stop wasting the taxpayers money. Alan Bomstein. Chainman Clearwater Downtown Development Board Meeting of J~ne 25, 1984 . ". l "